A significant number are now ok with restrictions remaining indefinitely

[Delphinet]

Firstly, this is NOT making any judgement either way, simply an observation. It seems to me from reactions on here and publically in general that there are a significant and possibly growing number of people who would not be discontent with restrictions at the level they are in place at the moment continuing indefinitely.

I'm inclined to agree with you op.

They seem to range from people who are thoroughly enjoying lockdown, probably because it shields them from real life, to those who don't believe that they should have to take any level of risk at all from Covid. However low.

The goalposts seem to be moving all the time and even now we have successful vaccinations being rolled out at a rapid pace, there is still talk of restrictions, because vaccines are not 100%.

I'm beginning to worry that we will not have freedom for several years and that people will relish it.

Evidence please? Because I see and experience absolutely no evidence of this being true. Quite the reverse, I experience more and more people who are saying that lockdowns must finish and life return to normal even if the vaccines fail now. People have had enough.

@RosesAndLemonade

It is what it is isn't it. If there's restrictions what can we do.

I'm not bothered though as I hate being touched, hate hugs (apart from my kids husband and mum) and hate being people too close to me. So I am very happy with the rules. I appreciate I'm in the minority though.

I feel the same about being touched, but that’s not the only restriction having a big impact on my life...

I mean, it’s not like I have to accept hugs from everyone just to have swimming pools open again, for example

I don’t think so either. No one I know is ok with it. No one I know will be sticking to it past March.

@HereComesATractor don't doubt it ! I've been working throughout, high risk job, no distancing, no ppe, CEV and I won't have a vaccine. I'm chill though I'm not fussed.
What j am fussed about is my DH and the fact he is having to cover for the fact I'm out at work and do home schooling and full time work etc. I see people the whole time at work , get out the house etc but he hasn't for a year. Also I saw people in the summer when it was allowed but we haven't lived in our area long so he doesn't know anyone (but I do from kids school). So for me...I'm ok. I worry deeply for my DH and it is really breaking him at the moment. Especially because I'm currently unwell and in hospital so he's trying to hold everything up. So yeah.. whilst I'm personally not fussed with covid and restrictions as my life has kinda just carries on as usual it is definitely affecting my husband and it worries me. A lot.

I think the opposite.

I think there's a massive hunger to get back to normal. I also think people are becoming more inclined to question the lockdown narrative and if cases continue to fall and the vaccine roll-out continues to keep up current pace, calls for an end to restriction will soon become quite loud.

Also, so much depends on the 'mood music' broadcast by the govt. What people tell pollster now, when we're still being scared with dark talk of 'new variants' may well change when a more optimistic tone is introduced.

I'm not sure about forever, but there are a certainly a lot of people who react negatively when restrictions are relaxed. I think they are scared.

Every time they announce that things are going to be relaxed here in Iceland there is a cascade of people saying nooooo, please don't, let's keep them a bit longer, this will lead to a huge spike again. Even though they've been gradually relaxing them for a while now and it all keeps on trending down and none of their predictions come true. Latest I remember was the pools reopening, if you believed the doom mongers it was definitely going to put us back to square 1. Over a month later, nah it was fine.

That sounds very tough RosesAndLemonade. Hope you are better soon

So basically, you had a theory and posted a thread framing it as fact.

Okay then

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

Well they can hide away and let the rest of us gradually return to normal.

Except that’s not what restrictions actually mean is it? It’s not a case of restrictions = lockdown.

Varying levels of restrictions to manage infection numbers and hospital admissions whilst the vaccination programme takes place and we have consistent evidence of suppression, yes I absolutely support that and if you want a sustainable return to normality it’s lunacy not to.

I support restrictions because I despise tough restrictions and there’s only one humane way through this.

Oh I thought you were going to show me statistics or something. But you must be conducting that internet science I keep seeing where people read a couple of things and then make wild presumptions.

I wouldn't use Mumsnet as a general barometer. It attracts a lot of people who have general health anxiety anyway and whose views don't represent the wider society. I don't know anyone in real life who wants this to last even a day longer.

Massive difference between recognising the necessity for temporary changes for the greater good, and being "content" with those changes. To suggest otherwise is to be disingenuous to the point of dishonesty.

You’re wrong. I think most people think they’re a necessary evil for now.

Isn't this just another type of "doom mongering "?

Being OK with some level of restriction remaining is completely different to being happy with all levels of restriction remaining.

For example if it makes supermarket staff feel better to keep plastic separators up then why not? It doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I’ll also be carrying on with getting shopping delivered where I can.

Likewise the encouragement to work from home and promoting flexible ways of working - that’s technically a government “restriction” however I’d absolutely love it if I didn’t have to spend the entirety of Sept-March surrounded by people with hacking coughs and snotting everywhere because they refuse to work from home.

I also personally will continue wearing a mask in public at times (particularly in aforementioned Snotting Season).

Don't be ridiculous. I doubt anyone wants them to continue indefinitely, they just don't want them to end too soon so that we are back in the same boat in a couple of months time.

To add to that, I think if you asked anyone they'd all say that of course they don't want the restrictions to be forever. But when it comes to the point to actually lift them, certainly at least a significant minority struggle with it and it clearly makes them feel unsafe and frightened. I do think there would always be some people who would want to wait just a little longer, just a little longer.

@HereComesATractor

That sounds very tough RosesAndLemonade. Hope you are better soon

Thanks. It is what it is. And it happens every year anyway. Was just utterly shit timing when my DH was struggling with work / home schooling anyway

@SirSamuelVimes

A significant number of people are fucking nuts though.

Yes!

I think the opposite. And I think that people who are vaccinated won't give much thought for young people who aren't

Once we had cars on the road we always had to look before crossing. That's a restriction we kept and got used to so some ongoing precautions I'd accept, but the idea that people want serious restrictions to stay is an idea pushed by anti-vaxxers to stir up resistance. Everyone is fed up with it, but tolerating it because there's no reasonable alternative.

Indefinitely does not mean forever, though.

For me it means following the science and seeing how things go over the coming weeks in an unpredictable situation rather than setting arbitrary deadlines like saying everything should be back to normal by half term, by Easter or whatever... We've already been there last year and should have learnt our lesson.

Ask them again in a few months when the weather's picked up.

I'd like the blissful lack of traffic jams on my morning commute to stay indefinitely, yes.

Other things - not so much.